Full Breakdown
Trial of Lu Jianwang: Alleged Chinese Spy Outpost in Manhattan
5/7/2026, 2:09:37 AM
Trial of Lu Jianwang: Alleged Chinese Spy Outpost
Lu Jianwang, known as Harry Lu, a 64-year-old U.S. citizen, is on trial in Brooklyn federal court for conspiring to act as an unregistered foreign agent and for destroying evidence. Prosecutors allege he set up a Manhattan outpost in 2022 that functioned as a “Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Station” to monitor and intimidate pro-democracy dissidents, communicated with a Chinese handler via WeChat, and deleted those messages. He was arrested in April 2023.
Origins of Overseas Chinese Police Stations
In 2022, China’s Ministry of Public Security announced a network of 30 overseas police stations to monitor individuals it deems hostile to Chinese interests. U.S. authorities, acting on a tip from a group tracking Chinese transnational repression, raided the Manhattan location on Oct. 3, 2022, seizing a computer, cell phones and a safe.
Principal Actors
The case involves Lu Jianwang; his brother Jimmy Lu, who co-ran the America ChangLe Association, a nonprofit described as a Fujianese social gathering place; co-defendant Chen Jinping, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy; defense attorney John Carman; U.S. prosecutor Lindsey Oken; and former NYPD officer Baimadajie Angwang, now an investigator for the defense.
Government and Defense Positions
Prosecutor Oken asserted that Lu operated “without asking or telling the U.S. government,” violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and that the outpost received Beijing directives to silence dissidents. The defense argued that Lu’s activities were limited to a driver’s-license renewal service, ping-pong and mahjong, and that the case hinged on a failure to file the required registration form. Carman emphasized that Lu is not a member of Chinese intelligence or the CCP.
Community Support and Prosecutorial Counterpoint
Outside the courthouse, several dozen supporters, including Lu’s church members, displayed signs reading “Justice for Harry Lu” and “Chinese Americans Are Americans,” and wore American flag pins. The prosecution highlighted a dissident allegedly targeted by the outpost, framing the case as a threat to free expression.
Discrepancies and Unresolved Issues
Prosecutors describe the premises as a secret police station; the defense calls it a community center offering driver’s-license services, illegal under U.S. law. No recordings of Lu’s two-hour FBI interviews have been released, and the deleted WeChat messages remain undisclosed. Whether the outpost engaged in intimidation of dissidents has not been proven.
Verbatim Quotes
- “was living in New York City but he was working for the Chinese government,” — Lindsey Oken, U.S. prosecutor
- “Lu was arrested for essentially failing to file a form,” — John Carman, defense attorney
- “No good deed goes unpunished” — John Carman, defense attorney
- “If Harry Lu is an agent of anyone, he is an agent for his community — the local people in his community.” — John Carman, defense attorney
Future Developments
The jury will deliberate after closing arguments; a verdict will determine whether Lu is convicted of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Sentencing for co-defendant Chen Jinping remains pending.
